Most people have a dream job in mind, especially college seniors. If you love your major, chances are you know where you would like to see yourself in 20 years. Sometimes I think my peers and I have that dream job so stuck in our heads that we hinder our entry level job search during senior year. Instead of searching endlessly and trying to get a “dream job” right off the bat, why not aim for a “dream first job”?
So, this term “dream first job,” what does it mean? It means this: the ideal first job you should have to get you on the path that leads you to landing your “dream job” sometime in the future. Sometimes this isn’t quite what you’d expect in the first place. But how do we figure out what we need to do in order to get to that ultimate dream job?
- Informational Interviews
Reach out to a professional in a position that you would love to be in one day. It might sound scary but most professionals love sharing their story with college students. When I took my Intro to PR class my sophomore year, my professor made it a requirement to do an informational interview with someone in the field of public relations. He told us that 9 out of 10 professionals are more than willing to meet you for coffee or lunch and discuss the industry. After two years of informational interviewing I can attest this is true. Ever since I did that first informational interview sophomore year, I call myself an addict. I make it a habit to reach out to professionals in positions I would like to be in one day. It’s very helpful and in the end, you’ve made a connection. Just remember to always send a hand written thank you afterward and keep in touch with that professional, even if you decide their career path isn’t exactly what you want. It’s networking after all.
- Research
Don’t be afraid to research the industry. In fact, you should probably spend quite a bit of time doing so. A lot of people have misconceptions about certain positions in the field they are interested in. For example, in public relations there are so many industries you can make a career in from fashion to politics. Research the industry and look for industry leaders online. Follow their blogs, follow their social media handles and read industry news such as PR Week or Ad Week. I’ve spent more time reading blogs from press secretaries of congressmen and political consulting professionals than I can count. And I love it.
- Asking Professors
Your professors actually know what they are talking about. Sure sometimes you get bored sitting in their 8:00AM classes, but they are a great untapped resource. In the College of Communications at Rowan University, many of our professors either still work in the field or they spent many years working in the field before turning to academia. Put your detective skills on and search your professor online or the school’s website. They often have a bio. If you find a professor who works in the field (or used to work in the field) that you are interested in, stop by their office hours and meet with them. You never know who they might know and professors love seeing students take initiative.
- Internship or Job Shadow
Sometimes we can’t fit internships into our busy schedules but try and make room for them. Interning will provide you with the information and real experience to see if you like the field or not. Imagine getting a job and figuring out a month later that you don’t like it all? That would be terrible. With internships, you get to test the waters and decide if you like that part of the industry or not. I’ve had internships where, while I had a great experience, I decided that part of the industry wasn’t where I saw my future career. Interning is a great way to network, gain experience and figure things out personally about your path to your future career. If you can’t intern or you have no idea where to even begin about a dream job, ask to job shadow. This is where your informational interviews come in handy. Reach out to those professionals and ask if you can shadow them for a day. It’s an eye-opening experience and gives you a small taste of what life is like for someone in the field.
- Plan & Apply
Spend time reading the full job description before applying and try to make a plan. Do you see yourself staying at that company and moving up from your “dream first job” to your “dream job”? Research the company and find as much information as possible. Ultimately, you want to be in control of your future; so start now!
Shannon Lee Smith 